Press Releases
Statement on the Situation Surrounding Hong Kong (Statement by Press Secretary KOBAYASHI Maki)
March 20, 2024
- Since its return in 1997, Hong Kong has enjoyed prosperity brought about by a free and open system where diverse opinions are respected under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework, and has developed as a financial center of Asia. From this perspective, it is the long-standing position of Japan to attach great importance to upholding a free and open system and ensuring the democratic and stable development of Hong Kong.
- On the situation surrounding Hong Kong, the Government of Japan has made clear that its grave concern is intensifying as the developments of situations such as the enactment of the national security law in June 2020, and the change of the provisions on the electoral system in the Hong Kong Basic Law in March 2021, which undermine the confidence in the "One Country, Two Systems" framework.
- Against this backdrop, the Government of Japan reiterates its grave concern about the passage of the "Safeguarding National Security Bill", which will further undermine the confidence in the "One Country, Two Systems" framework.
- The Government of Japan will continue to carefully observe developments surrounding Hong Kong and call on China and Hong Kong authorities, in cooperation with relevant countries, to ensure that activities and rights of Japanese nationals and companies in Hong Kong, with which Japan maintains close economic ties, continue to be respected and protected in the same manner as before, and that the rights and freedoms of the people in Hong Kong are respected.